Don't Be Fooled by the Retro Styling: Hi Fi Rose's RA280 is a State of the Art Integrated Amp
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- Опубліковано 16 вер 2024
- Mike and David go a little 'off piste' in this episode, to review a South Korean-designed and made, mid-price integrated amplifier that's actually quite purist in its design. Look beyond its seventies-tastic styling, and you'll find a hugely powerful and highly advanced implementation of Class D. The guys agree that it sounds surprisingly good - so if you're as deaf as a post or have speakers as inefficient as BBC LS3/5as, this could be the amp for you!
Every episode of Hi-Fi Riff features Mike and David's unedited, unexpurgated views about all manner of weird and wonderful hi-fi designs. Business executive Mike has a wealth of knowledge from previous hi-fi retail experience, and David has written about hi-fi for thirty years. Now Editor-in-Chief of StereoNET, he's picked up a few things along the way.
So relax and enjoy some one-take hi-fi riffing - and please leave your comments below. And don’t forget to hit the Subscribe button, this one goes up to eleven!
The eighties-tastic title tune is called ‘UFO/Mike’s Jumper’, and used with the express permission of our old pal and rights holder Simon Lythe.
For more information on this little powerhouse, click on www.stereonet.com/uk/news/theres-a-new-hifi-rose-in-town-ra280-integrated-amplifier
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It's a joy watching your videos!
Interesting riff again chaps, always enjoyable. One of my favourite live albums is Tom Petty live at the Fillmore. Might be because I just like the music! Any how keep up the good work😊
Love the banter. Thank you for reviewing of something I wouldn't normally consider.
You two are the best hifi show on the boobtube! Always entertaining! Cheers lads from Cape Breton!
Crikey! That thing is definitely dressed as a large bottle of marmite :-)
David, if you're hot why not put your winter coat on with your jumper 😂. Another good one guys.
Neil Diamonds original Hot August Night is a tremendous live album especially side 4 of the vinyl
I like tone controls but I like the tone defeat button even more.
Huge review fellas. Had to put my Nan down to get 1/5th the cash to buy the amp but will still watch the channel with intent x
Still laughing!
Mike
Very good and fun rewiew , very interesting , ❤ as usual ..., thanks
Interesting as my 1972 Sugden A21 drove my Linn Saras (2nd hand but likely 1983) very well. I don't play amazingly loud - also when I first bought the Saras reputation meant I cautiously drove them very quietly with the Sugden, even at low levels they sounded great!
Oh and definitely Nagra references going on with the Rose styling.
Tell Dave his Madri is actually the exact recipe to 1990’s Carling Black Label. True story.
I heard that it was Coors Light with a bit of extra hop extract added?
@@MrVinylista Real Craft Ale is where I got my info from lol
No way!!! that's brilliant.
Mike
Always a pleasure to watch you guys, thanks!
I'm very glad you chose to review this as the tech is very interesting to me. Those newer FET's used in a class D config are the basis of some very high end designs and I was particularly interested as several reviewer's have rated these new designs very highly and many have spoken about 'tube like' qualities. Did you find that with this design?
I was particularly interested in AGD Audion monoblocks based on class D with these FET's, which look fantastic and apparently display tube like qualities. I've ended up with a Tube/solid state hybrid McIntosh MA252 for that tube like sound married with A/B power, but I'd still love to hear the AGD's and this Hi-Fi Rose product was also something else I'd like to hear, although it may be a backwards step for me now.
On a selfish level, I'd love to hear you test Hi Fi Roses top end streamer the RA130. I'm using the little Musical Fidelity Mx Stream as a stop gap till I can afford a more 'Top end' solution, and the RA130 is my current wish to feed the TT2 and M Scaler for my 'end game' system (almost there, just need the streamer and a better USB cable) :)
Loved this review and I'm delighted that you guys covered it!
Wow, 86 Fahrenheit. So hot 😂 Try visiting the Southern U.S. 86 is a cool day.
Another great live recording is 'Alice in Chains' for MTV Unplugged. Recorded in 1996 at the Majestic Theater, in New York. Sounds wonderful on my very modest setup. Thanks for the Riffs.
Hi Guys, Lee from Australia. It would be interesting for you if you could get a Spec M99 integrated amp for review as it is possibly one of the best D class products available. I have one and it matches my Borresen X2 speakers very nicely.. It sounds like a valve amp. Keep up the great work.
That's really interesting, I just posted a question asking about 'Valve like qualities' as several people using Class D with these newer FET's are claiming valve like liquidity, warmth and soundstage. The Spec M99 goes on my list of products to watch! It very plain for my system (which looks like a tardis), but I'd live with that if the sound is there!
As a DALI Rubicon 2 owner, I'm obviously hoping there's a DALI Rubikore review in the works. What model by the way? (2, 6, 8, or the MTM Cinema?) And finally, I struggle to think of any other UA-cam hifi reviews that I enjoy more. You chaps always bring a smile to my face. Keep up the good work.
Rubikore 2 in my system as we speak... spoiler alert... I am loving them so much!
Mike
I'm really looking forward to seeing what the next alcoholic beverage David will be enjoying next
Correction...which of Mike's alcoholic beverages he will be enjoying next!
Mike
@@Hi-FiRiff Poor Mike... 😂
Just made Enhciladas, beer...was about to watch a film.....Riff lads are back!
Also missing a record/fixed line level out for recorders or digitizing analogue sources like connecting to a ADC and your pc.
GaN FETs may switch faster, but are they as reliable as Silicon (yet) ?
Afternoon gents
Afternoon, KJ.
great riff, made me laugh too, you should do a riff on your cars as another channel! got to be more laughs and stories to be told with your cars?
It's funny you should say that - we have been considering it.
David has enough for a couple of seasons!
Mike
Have you guys heard of Clef Audio ? they build a budget amp from Thailand . Approx £1500 called The Soloist 50. I’m sure Peach Tree Audio are the only UK stockist?
@mrvinylista ?
Everyone is doing cartwheels about this. I can get one in Bangkok but they've tacked about $1k USD premium onto the asking price, and that's probably a bit more than I could live with myself for setting on fire instead of waiting.
Smashy and nicey 😊
Not 'arf, great mate!
😂
Looking forward to the cabin sauna special. Maximum knob feel.
HiFi Riff "Hot n Sweaty Socket Edition"😃
@@EddyTeetree Oh God, please no!
Thanks and enjoying all your reviews - Any chance in reviewing the Hegel H190V amplifier- Best wishes & Regards
It looks different 😊
Thanks chaps Another enjoyable riff with midget references to boot. Hope Hugh Masekala is a stonking recording - Stimela being the demo track of demo tracks. Although if i hear Nils Lofgren Keith Don't Go one more time I shall scream 😂
Agree completely.
Any other recommendations?
Mike
Dave does love a good socket 😂
@@Ricky-cl5bu We can't blame the guy.🙂
How about a riff on the Hifi Rose RS130 streaming transport? It is packed with novel tech and sounds fantastic.
Just asked for the same thing! I'd love to hear what they think of that...
Hopefully after the upcoming Hi-Fi shows, the nice people at Henley Audio will lend us one
Mike
How would You compared this to an Exposure 3510 for a Harbeth SHL5+ XD?
I love the Exposure amps... they are right up my street. But you would need a couple of monoblocks to match the Rose's power!
Mike
Cool. Did you guys find you needed to let it warm up for a while? Like 1 hr before listening? I just picked up one and it feels a little soft to me. Is there a break in period that it needs….?
Yes... we run in all our amps and switch them on a good hour prior to listening.
Definitely best practice.
You posted this a few days ago... how is it doing now?
Mike
Tone controls are useful to match an amp with speakers with minor tweaking. Otherwise, tonal controls aren't needed in today's amps.
@@asrarul12 Assuming everyone has perfect acoustics in their room. If every car head unit had the same output level, there'd be no need for a gain control.
Hey chaps. This looks like a nice piece of kit. I just tested a Yamaha AS1200 which I really liked but it is huge!This looks like it would be worth a look too. Any thoughts on how different the sound signature will be when compared to the Yamaha? Any thoughts on speaker matching for the Rose?
Is there a headphone socket or at least a line out to allow you to use a headphone amplifier?
Does it get hot when driven hard or is no wasted energy the benefit of class D? HiFi Rose really does things well. It looks like a very nice piece of kit like their pre-amps. Who knows what the longevity is gonna be like tho of this technology. I mean for the money. We use a yank tank of an A/B solid state made in 1974 250w into 8ohm 350w into 4ohm that's still chugging along fine as of last night anyway. How's about a Riff doing an HiFi quiz in your local pub? That would be a bit of fun aye😃
No - it ran very cool in my system.
Hi-Fi quiz... there's a thought... just don't invite David
Mike
GAN FETs seem to be the current hi-fi forum raves for this still developing technology. I use a NAD M33 which is class D and I don't recognise your generic description of the class D sound. I also auditioned PMC active twenty5i speakers recently which use class D amps and these certainly didn't sound anything like you describe. Maybe this is another example of audiophile snobbishness? Anyway as usual a highly entertaining riff, looking forward to the next one- maybe the Salvador Dali's? Hope you'll be wearing the appropriate moustaches. Cheers.
I've been reviewing Class D amps - from budget to super-fi - for 20 plus years and stand by my comments. I must have tried over 100 products from an early Sony TA-N88B to the latest Mola-Mola Makua/Kaluga. To my ears, Class D amps tend to sound slightly opaque and slow and/or not tuneful in the bass. Not every one sounds this way, but many tend to, and the breed isn't famous for musicality. This is a generalisation, and doesn't apply to absolutely everything I've auditioned though - with the Hi-Fi Rose RA280 being an interesting case in point.
By the way, anyone who has followed me during my 30-year hi-fi writing career, will know that I'm the last person who could be called a snob - in hi-fi terms at least! Many of my contemporaries in the industry run high end kit that costs more than my house, while I'm currently using a Rega Aethos amp and an assortment of old, used and/or restored kit that costs less than some people's interconnects. I have however reviewed a lot of very high end stuff, especially during my time at Hi-Fi News from 2014 to 2019, but on and off since 1995 - so I know that market pretty well.
Thanks for your comments, and we will indeed be doing the 'Salvadors' soon - another annoying 'Mike joke', that - and also a certain NAD M33. So keep your peepers peeled! 🙂
Perfect timing chaps.....Just about to buy either the RA280 Rose or the Atoll 300, Lost all faith in Naim.
whats naim done?
@@jdekong3945 for one their seperates have become insanely expensive. Like the new 200 range.
@@jdekong3945 Sold out to the bean counters and 2 pieces packed up on me. Still have 3 Naim systems but won't be buying any more.
@@owenoneill5955 it is a very sad state of affairs, 9 people made redundant on Friday, some who had been there for decades. New range is waaaay overpriced and people just are not buying.
@@owenoneill5955 you have been mugged off enough. Overpriced.
A midget and a drunk in one episode? I think I saw a midget and a drunk outside a train station once.Am I allowed to say that? That's alot of attenuation on those tone controls. Thanks again guys.
Will this unit work well with a Magnapan LRS+?
Now there's a cool speaker! The answer is yes.
The high end AGD amps which put the amp in a valve and look like valve amps sound like valve amps yet run GAN fets. There are many more. I have a thing about Rose amps their more expensive amps look like Nagra replica's at 10th of the price which I find annoying..I know people like them..Maybe I'm just grumpy in my old age 🙂
Aren't we all
Mike
It would suit being silver
exists in silver and very nice pics on their webpage
evening folks
Evening squire.
Given it's Class D, would this complement my Magnepan 3.6Rs? I have a Krell KSA100 MK1 presently, and I am considering a more modern alternative. I too own a HiFi Rose RS130 streamer and think the obvious synergy might be a bonus 🤔
Stay w AB, Maggie's ❤ current 😮
I've not heard the KSA100 mk1 but I reviewed the mk2 a few years back. If similar, then it should sound tonally slightly harsher, more propulsive and generally more 'characterful' than the Rose.
The RA280 by comparison is more analytical but has lots of detail and grip - and is hugely powerful with brilliant current drive. I'd suggest you borrow one from a dealer if you can, to see if you like the end result.
The car analogies are getting a bit frequent, aren't they? Found myself fast forwarding a few times during this one.
Sorry - we are such petrol heads. Understand it's not everyones cuppa, but we are who we are I'm afraid (a couple of sad old gits, before someone says it!)
Mike
...and long may it last. My mild observation doesn't detract from your excellence in things fidelity.
Why not discuss the Naim Supernait 3 in this amplifier range?
Yes indeed... would love one for review
Mike
What is the point of this component?
🙄
@@analogueman5364 🎂👏🎁🛺🙌😁🥰😍😂😩😩😩😏🤬🎷🎷👍👍👍🙏🎂😀📺😡🥹🤣😏😎
To power passive speakers, which it appears to do well because it has power to spare.
Very odd question?
@@playbackvintagehifihunter9669 I don't understand how this fits and into a hi-fi system.
Don't care how good it is, no way could I live with an amp displaying such facia disfigurement.
@@lazgrillo6982 not to mention, you could buy a great preamp and power amp for 1/3rd the price that would be better.
Ooh - harsh. Or maybe I'm old!
Mike
Riffing off Hans Beekhuyzen? Tut tut....Certainly, I was "paying attention at the back" today. Referring to the amp, there is often a case for placing too much emphasis on power. Maybe, this is why Hi-Fi Rose are under-selling this statistic. Perhaps they have experience of the "male compensation" factors that drove those patronising Lasky's salesmen of yesteryear.
Not nearly steampunk enough.
Tone controls really turn me off amps
Agree - at least these can be turned off
Mike
Hello I am Mike Evans and Dave need a new hair stylist
I'll just put my other wig on.
@@MrVinylista Well with that answer I had to subscribe to MrVinylista. Xx
@@simonirvine1628 😂
We had an email from one of the Riff-Raff with this link. ua-cam.com/video/Qs9lGMJzY60/v-deo.html
@@Hi-FiRiff My hairstyle is the height of fashion once every 25 years. It's been in fashion twice, so far. Can't be long until it's back again. 😎
This amplifier has a lot in common with Mike's old Capri... there's not much under the bonnet! Class D amplifiers, along with streamers, will be occupying landfill sites en masse in the very near future. Are prospective hi-fi purchasers blinded by technological "advancement"? Isn't it cheaper to manufacture Class D amplifiers? Class AB amps with their large transformers and heatsinks are heavier than Class D amps and more expensive to ship/transport. I suppose there's a market for them, but I don't consider them hi-fi....
Lot's of people would agree.... however the Rose went back yesterday and I am missing it.
Mike
No digital inputs makes this useless. 3 Grand is a joke.
Many amps in this price range don't have a dac.
The problem is, if you bundle one in then it is either a budget one, or you may already own a nice external dac making the inbuilt one redundant.
Personally I like that they have focused on one thing only... Just to make a good amp.
Mike
@@Hi-FiRiff For £3000, I'd expect it to have a great DAC. Units around £300 usually have a good one. This would have been better as a straight power amp, but I don't think it would be better than an Adcom GFA-555 II that you can get for €500.
@@TE5LA-GAMING The RA280 surprised me by being quite 'old school', as I expected it to have everything except the kitchen sink.
When I spoke to the Hi-Fi Rose team in Seoul, South Korea a couple of weeks ago, they said this amp is for audiophiles who will likely already have a DAC or streamer.